Top Architects, Designers, Developers and Media converged at the first-ever LIXIL Spalet Iconic Tour 2018 in Nagoya, Japan – the birth place of Spalets and Ceramics.

Top Architects, Designers, Developers and Media converged at the first-ever LIXIL Spalet Iconic Tour 2018 in Nagoya, Japan – the birth place of Spalets and Ceramics.

Jul 26, 2018

INAX Museum

Over 50 of Asia’s top designers, architects, developers and media were invited to the first-ever LIXIL Spalet Iconic Tour 2018 in Nagoya, Japan where the highlight of the tour was the Dream Spalet Destination Competition 2018.

The Dream Spalet Destination Competition 2018 is a concerted effort on the company’s part for the Spalet culture to take root in Asia, by promoting toilet evolution from its traditional use to an unparalleled level of hygiene with Spalets.

The competition invites architects and designers from Asia Pacific to submit their hospitality projects featuring Spalet products (shower toilets/ electronic bidets seats) from any of LIXIL’s 3 brands – INAX, Grohe and American Standard. Shortlisted projects were featured on www.ilovespalet.com where consumers voted for their choice of a ‘Dream Spalet Destination’. An internal judging by LIXIL judges determined the 5 Finalist entries and they were invited to the LIXIL Spalet Iconic Tour 2018 in Nagoya, Japan where the Grand Winner Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok was revealed at the evening fete.

On the first day of the tour, the architects and designers had the pleasure of visiting the LIXIL Nagoya showroom, where they were treated to the breadth and depth of LIXIL’s product offerings including shower toilets, tiles, windows and kitchens.

LIXIL Nagoya Showroom

They also experienced an architectural tour around the megalopolis of the future – Nagoya Station.
Guests toured the vicinity which included the JP Tower, JR Gate Tower, and the astonishing Dai Nagoya Building which rises to over 33,000 square meters of office and commercial spaces. The tower’s exterior was designed by the creator of Olympic logo himself, Asao Tokoro.

Exterior of Dai Nagoya Building – designed by Asao Tokoro, creator of the Tokyo Olympic logo

Day 2, 13 July

On the second day, guests took a trip down the memory lane at the INAX Tile Museum, where thousands of decorative tiles from all over the world are put on display. The tiles date back from the pre-Christian era to the modern age, along with the history of their development.

INAX Tile MuseumGuests looking at a tiled ceiling at the INAX Tile MuseumBlue and White Pottery Toilets from the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Olden days blue and white pottery toilets were also head-turners in the tour. In most Meiji-era (1868-1912) Japanese households, such blue and white ceramic bowls expressed the hospitality and thoughtfulness of the host, who chose the color white and blue to visually dispel the often-gloomy space of a bathroom. Guests also saw the first made-in-Japan shower toilet at work, still fully functional after more than half a century!

There was also a hands-on clay making workshop at the INAX Museum where architects, designers and the media experienced the joy of making Dorodango or ‘lustrous clay balls’.

Clay-making workshop ‘Dorodango’

Later in the evening, guests were entertained by a Samishen performance at the grand dinner – highlighting the beauty of Japanese culture and arts. LIXIL top executives took to the stage and wowed the audience with the great story of LIXIL’s pioneering history of innovation, technology and design evolution. The evening concluded with a surprise appearance by the Spalet Sensei and the announcement of the Dream Spalet Destination Grand prize Winner: Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok.

LIXIL Water Technology Spalet Iconic Tour 2018 Dinner

With the innovative advancements of Spalet, LIXIL is looking forward to taking its success and the Spalet culture into Asia and to the rest of the world.